Asthma is an illness that is easily exacerbated, as sufferers are particularly sensitive to the allergens in their environment, especially in and around their home. These allergens are in the form of dust, dust mites, cleaning products, pet hair, and pollens from particular plants in the garden. All these things add up to make an asthma and allergy sufferers life a living hell… … however, things can be done that will dramatically cut down on these major irritants.
When my daughter was diagnosed with Asthma and we found through allergy tests she was hypo-sensitive to so many things, we looked around at what could be done.
One thing she was very allergic to was our beautiful Persian cross cat Fluffy. It was Fluffy's fur she was allergic to, so the decision had to be made to re-home our darling cat as she was very much an indoor puss! Luckily, she found a home with a lovely pensioner lady who had to have her cat put down, as it had cancer. She was heart-broken and when I told her about our predicament and how for the sake of our baby's health we had to re-home our beloved cat, she took her on. This was not a step we took lightly - it broke our hearts – believe me we checked out thoroughly the new home Fluffy was going to and went and visited several times just to make sure she had adjusted to her new environment.
Next thing we did was to take up all our fitted carpets and have timber floors (a great decision it made the home look more spacious and light!) We also got a very good vacuum cleaner which was a Dyson. Knowing what to look for in a vacuum is integral because not all vacuum cleaners are created equally. We really investigated all vacuum cleaners and the Dyson came out on top. When looking for a machine you need one that captures dust and does not blow it back into the air, we found that Dyson vacuums reduce allergen particles due to its bag less operation and filters. Plus they last a lifetime!!
So daily I used it on the wooden floors and twice a week I used it on the upholstery, curtains, mattresses and pillows. One thing I will remind everyone, when vacuuming is don't forget the spots you can't see, such as those behind furniture, out of sight may be out of mind, however, dust in these spots are still present.
A lot of work you might say, well yes and no, when you think vacuuming regularly can drastically reduce allergy triggers in the home which will lower the dependence on medications you or your child has to take it's a no brainer decision really.
So what else can you do around your home to help?
Mould and Mildew–
The vast majority of people will keep a clean house, but it is essential that if you do see mould - particularly mildew - building up around window frames or on ceilings, that you remove it.
Mould and Mildew can make an asthma and allergy sufferers very sick as the particles of bacteria get in to the air and are subsequently breathed in to the lungs causing untold irritation.
Clean with tea-tree oil and warm water for a thorough result.
And then there are those –
Household Cleaners -
Any cleaning product that uses harsh chemicals is to be avoided if you're looking to create an asthma/allergy friendly home. Read the label. Cleaning supplies can sometimes increase allergen levels. Reading the label to identify hazardous chemicals is important when looking for cleaning supplies, wherever possible, substitute natural ingredients - such as the aforementioned tea tree oil or an old staple such as white vinegar - for chemical-mix products. Avoid bleach wherever possible. I have listed a few things below to help you.
White Vinegar: use to clean windows and glass for a streak-free finish, and to tackle stubborn stains. Ideal for showers – yes tiles and glass.
Bi-Card Soda: A wonderful all-purpose cleaner to be used wherever you previously may have used bleach.
Tea tree oil: a natural anti-bacterial substance, tea tree oil works well anywhere you wish to rid yourself of germs.
Bees wax: better, and cheaper, than conventional furniture polish.
By switching to these products, you'll not only save money but will vastly improve the air quality for anyone suffering from asthma. Everyone wins!
There is a great eBook I would recommend for everyone, it has recipes for 100% natural products – go and check it out - TheWhat For and How To "Blenders Delight" Everyday Aromatherapy Recipe Guideis a TOP SELLER – and has Jam-packed 64 pages filled with Superior content.The link for this is in my resource box
Gardens:
You need to have plants and trees that are pollinated by birds and insects rather than by the wind (release their seeds into the air) Plus can do the following –
- Weed regularly.
- Replace lawn with bricked or paved areas.
- Avoid rye grass.
- Replace mulch with pebbles or gravel.
I wish you and yours the best of Health!
Disclaimer
It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.
